Lutyen’s Delhi won “Cleanest Small City” award 2019

Under Swachh Survekshan 2019, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) won the ‘cleanest small city’ award for the second successive year. The classification comprises cities with inhabitants of one to three lakh.

On the other hand, in the overall ranking, the NDMC lost a rank to 5th this year. In this year total number of 4,237 cities across the country was surveyed.

“This (the fall in rank) has happened primarily because single-use plastic ban is not in place in Delhi. A case involving traders is still going on in the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal. We would have gotten 300 points more if the ban was in place,” NDMC chairperson Naresh Kumar said.

In the NDMC, only 3% of Delhi’s geographical area and population come under it, but it is well thought-out to be the seat of political power in India. It accomplished to get a ‘3 star Garbage Free City’ rating as well as the ‘Open Defecation Free (ODF) ++’ tag for constructing up the toilets with the “best international standard facilities”. The NDMC had got the ‘ODF’ certificate in 2016.

Kumar said the council’s major accomplishment has been in giving “due respect and training” to hygiene and cleanliness workforces who are now called ‘safai sevaks’.

Kumar said, “We have 2,205 safai sevaks with the NDMC who we took to Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore, to attend workshops and learn best practices.” This NDMC’s Swachh Survekshan story is not just about machineries, but about the human beings involvement, he stressed.

A senior NDMC official, who deals with solid waste management, said, the association, has attained “door-to-door garbage collection in all its 14 circles”.

Status of Ranking from 20018 and 2109

New Delhi Municipal Council: In 2018 the ranking was 4 while in 2019 the ranking stepped down by 1 rank that is from 4 to 5.

North Delhi Municipal Corporation: In 2018 the ranking was 206 while in 2019 the ranking is 282 which means this ranking status stepped down by 76 ranks.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation: In 2018 the ranking was 32 while in 2019 the ranking is 138 which means this ranking status stepped down by 106 ranks.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation: In 2018 the ranking was 341 while in 2019 the ranking is 240 which means this ranking status stepped down by 99 ranks.

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) backed the “Cleanest Small City” award this year through their solid waste management system, proper installation of toilets, proper usage of technology and best horticulture practices.